#klpf2018

Title: Trust the Love Experts: Relationship Advice from Keith Kogane

Author: @salparadiselost

Artist:  @latewithstardust

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: none

Summary: 

Keith doesn’t consider himself a very romantic boy. He likes knives, the colour black and has never seen a rom-com in his life. But he’s going to need to be romantic because he’s hopelessly in love with his best friend, Lance McClain and he has finally worked up the nerve to ask him out. But after a disastrous attempt that only left him more friend-zoned than ever before. He's frustrated, pining, and desperately wants to kiss Lance’s face off. He’s further from being Lance’s boyfriend than ever, but luckily, he’s about to get a little help from an unlikely source: an article from Cosmopolitan magazine called, 10 Steps to Seduce Your Man!

Basically, a fluff fic in which Keith is a complete disaster that gets some of the worst romantic advice ever. And despite the fact that Lance may be the most oblivious boy to walk the Earth, the advice kinda sorta works?

link to fic: https://archiveofourown.org/works/18923557/chapters/44924761

Title: And I'll Form the Heart

Author: Voltronseatbelts

Artist: Totesunrepentent 

Post Date: April 24th, 2019

Sneak Peek!

The romance isn’t working. Keith’s love life is nonexistent. He’s going to flunk out of college. He takes a deep breath through his nose and levels Lance with his most threatening look.

“What if you don’t get me to fall in love by the end of the semester?” he asks. Lance’s expression morphs from shocked to confused to thoughtful in the space of a nanosecond. He seems to mull over the question, tapping the straw of his drink against his chin.

“We can trade rooms,” he says. “You’re always complaining about that.” “And you do my laundry,” Keith demands.

“I do all your laundry except whites.”

“You do all my laundry, including whites, plus the futon cover.” “All the laundry, including whites, no futon,” Lance counters.

“Done,” Keith says.

A slow, sly grin unfurls over Lance’s lips. He raises an eyebrow at Keith’s extended hand.

“Wait. Really?” he asks.

“Yes, and hurry up before I take it back,” Keith snaps.

Lance doesn’t waste a moment, grabbing Keith’s hand and shaking it vigorously. Keith hisses and Lance quickly retracts his touch, both suddenly aware of the coffee burns forming on his skin.

“I can’t believe you broke your coffee cup because he gave you his number,” Lance laughs. 

“Say that again and I’ll include the futon cover.” Keith spins on his heel and walks away again, hiding his hand against his chest.

“No, I like it!” Lance says, jogging to keep up. “It means I have a project. And you, Keith, are my best subject yet.”

The tone of his voice is suspicious and unsettling. Keith flattens his mouth into a frown and doesn’t reply. He won’t give Lance the satisfaction. 

Because Lance is already all sorts of satisfied. He continues blabbering, listing all the things he wants to do with his ‘best subject.’ Keith doesn’t bother to listen. He’s freaking out in his own mind, because Lance, of all people—Lance has taken it upon himself to get Keith to fall in love. 

Title: Once, We Watched the Lazy World Go By

Author: AmbitiousSkychild

Artist: HystericalCherries

Post Date: April 22, 2019

Sneak Peek!

A loud slap sounded above his head, startling Lance upright.

He could see his brother Luis, still asleep in the darkness, and turned frantically over his shoulder to his window to see a tuft of dark hair outside, bounding up and down. Keith was outside his window trying to jump into view. Panicking, Lance kicked at his sheets and scrambled over onto his knees, leaning up to open his window just as Keith found something sturdy to stand on, and.

And there was Keith, standing innocently outside his window in the middle of the night with his big, dark eyes and his toothy grin and–

Lance tried not to look as lovestruck as he felt. “Keith, you can’t be here,” he whispered, and he wanted to be stern, but there was no stopping the upward tug of his own lips as he looked at him. The wind sweeping in from the woods tousled the raven locks about his face and dropped his hair into his eyes and Lance snorted.

Keith huffed, pushing his hair back. “Well, I am,” he argued with that look. The one that dared Lance to act like he didn’t want this. Lance always lost that dare. “Yeah, I see that, but–”

“Come outside,” Keith said, out of his mouth like an eruption – like he just couldn’t stop it, like it was that simple and he leaned up closer to the window on the tips of his toes like it wasn’t the cutest thing.

“No,” Lance told him with a frantic glance back to his brother, still asleep and clueless across the room. He could hear it like a reminder, like a warning, how silent his house was at the moment. How wrong and irresponsible this was. “You should go back to the castle, Keith, you’ll get caught and I–”

“Lance,” Keith interrupted softly, and there were those big, dark eyes, pulling Lance in and in like an anchor, and his bow-shaped lips dropped into that pout. “Please?” he said, and Lance was a goner.

“Stand back,” Lance said thoughtlessly, and he pretended not to notice the grin of triumph as Lance climbed slowly and carefully out of his window in his ratty pajamas.

Title: PurpurBonbon

Author: Voido ( @bluetenspleisser)

Artist: @daifha

Rating: Teen

Warnings: minor graphic violence/injuries, near-death experiences

Summary: 

Owning the flashiest apartment in the worst slum district of the city, local celebrity Lance McClain is all but asking to be assaulted, robbed and murdered. The only thing that tops it all off are his cheerful, naive trust in strangers, and his inability to take a hint. From the moment Keith receives his newest mission, he’s certain that McClain has only three objectives in life: Drinking overpriced coffee, dominating social media, and making his murderer’s life absolute hell. Killing him shouldn’t be a big deal—he’s loud, obnoxious, and annoying.

He’s also the only person who’s ever been so adamant to be Keith’s friend.

Link to Fic: https://archiveofourown.org/works/18779113/chapters/44552305

Title: The Sound of Blue

Author: MsBlueBell

Artist: BlackRoseMii

Post Date: May 9th

Sneak Peek!

Keith placed down his brush, stepping back to review his work. Maybe the smaller details weren’t needed, the audience certainly wouldn’t see them from their seats, but he’d poured so much time and work into the scene that he wanted it to be perfect for him more than them. This was one of his last pieces before the show, the benefit of him being obsessive towards his work, and it was beautiful. The fine golden foil sheen practically glew beneath the lights, a fine shine to everything, the royal blue he’d just painted accenting the stairwell leading down to the ballroom floor. It was three dimensional, with actual fake columns being set forward and the chandelier ready to be lowered into the set, actual stairs for the actors to descend.  He was proud to say that the Altean Regal Theater would definitely being using this set again. He was confident of it. The noirette took a step back, wiping a bit of sweat from his forehead, scrutinizing his work. His paint stained T-shirt hung loosely from his shoulder, the black material permanently stained with evidence of his past works, the newest golden and blue stains joined with the myriad of colors spread across the cheap fabric. He hopes the owner of the theater, Alfor, likes it. Keith only got the job here because Allura loved his stuff so much, but he doesn’t think he’ll get to keep his job here if the dad doesn’t like it. He’s feeling pretty confident though, especially since he’d finished a good month before his deadline. Satisfied, Keith reached down and plucked up his long forgotten coffee cup, taking a long and rewarding sip as he let his shoulders relax, relishing a job well done. He dropped his brush into a dirty cup, also caked with years of paint, letting the fine bristles soak away the blue.

Title: Sunny Side Up

Author: Koganewest

Artist: Periwinkler

Post Date: May 17, 2019

Sneak Peek!

“I’m sorry, I just— I was trying to get you to calm down! It was a mistake, a misunderstanding,” he rambles, and Keith can’t even bear to look at his face. Lance lets out a nervous laugh and continues to make the situation a million times worse than it’d been. Keith just stares at the ground, face burning in shame. “I thought," Lance stutters, "I mean, I guess I read the situation wrong,” he shrugs, punctuated with a haphazard chuckle. He looks down at his feet, at his leg that shakes nervously, and shrugs again, as if to enunciate how uncomfortable he is. “No harm, no foul, right? We can just forget that ever happened.” If it hadn't been for the deafening fireworks above them, Keith thinks he'd be able to hear the sound of his heart snapping in two. “This is amusing to you, isn’t it?” Keith demands, visibly stiffening at his own tone, which betrays the hurt he’d been trying to hide. “This is funny, huh? It’s funny to watch me make a fool of myself in front of you. It’s funny when you make believe you care. It’s funny when you slow dance with me in your childhood bedroom. It’s funny when I try so hard to get your attention, doing my hair and dressing nice and— and for what?! For you to kiss me just for the hell of it? Then call it a mistake?” Lance only stares with widened eyes, absolutely silent, as Keith falls to pieces right in front of his eyes. “Whatever, then,” Keith huffs, turning his back to Lance once more. His voice is now detached, deadpan, emotionless — just as drained as he feels — like all the emotion has seeped out of him and dripped through the gaping hole in his chest. He should’ve known better than to come to this awful party. Parties never end well, and tonight was no exception. Keith crosses his arms over his chest defensively and hides his face with his fallen hair. A tear falls. Then another. “I didn’t think you could be this cruel, Lance. I guess I just always thought you’d be gentle when you broke my heart.”

Title: Love and All That Jazz

Author: Lollipop1141

Artist: Hoodie3525

Post Date: April 26, 2019

Sneak Peek!

“C'mon, the show’s not over yet.” With a nod, Keith walked to the piano and stretched his arms before looking at Lance. Giving an ok sign, Keith came in sweet melodies and then Lance sang. “I see you driving ‘round town with the girl I love and I'm like,” Lance closed his eyes, “Forget you.” “I guess the change in my pocket wasn’t enough, I'm like,” he pointed at Kolivan with a grin, “forget you,” he pointed at Coran and winked back, “And forget you too.” “Well, I'm sorry, can't afford a Ferrari.” He twisted off the mic from the stand and marched around the stage, something fierce burning in his eyes. “But that don’t mean I can't get you there.” “Oh I know, I had to borrow, beg, and, steal, and lie, and cheat,” He clutched his chest, as though pained from a memory. “Trying to keep you, trying to please you.” “But damn girl, your ass ain't cheap.” Lance snapped his fingers. “I pity the fool that falls in love with you, oh.” “Ooohh she's a gold digger.” Keith, Pidge, and Hunk piped up at the back. “Ooohh she's a backstabber.” Pidge inserted in. Hunk couldn’t help snorting. “I said why.” Lance pointed the mic to the crowd which enthusiastically replied, “Why.” “Why.” “WHY.” “WHYYY BABYY.” Lance sang at the top of his lungs. “I loved you. I STILL DO OOOHHHH!” The crowd cheered as he hit the high notes, adrenaline riding with Lance as he stole the attention of everyone in the room. “Forget you.” The crowd loved it, and Lance was grinning wide, his forehead shining with perspiration. He looked behind him and gave Pidge and Hunk two thumbs up. Locking eyes with Keith, he gave him the fiercest grin. Keith didn't know that Lance could look as fiercely attractive as now, but at that moment, Keith realized that he was too far gone.

Title: Trust the Love Experts: Relationship Advice from Keith Kogane

Author: Salparadiselost

Artists: LatewithStardust & Seaglass-Sunsets

Post Date: April 30, 2019

Sneak Peek!

“These people are professionals. They know what they’re talking about.”

He blinked, tilting his head a bit in confusion. There were love professionals? How had he never known this and could these people really help him win over Lance?

The girl must have seen his bafflement because she barrelled forward, grabbing the magazine out of his hands and quickly flipping him to a specific page.

“Here, I think that this article in particular could help you.” She laid the magazine flat on the table and Keith peered forward to look at the colourful article. The whole page was filled with bright neon pink boxes and a bold text that read: 

10 Steps to Seduce Your Man! 1. Eye contact- let him know you’re interested through long stares 2. Touch him- men communicate through touch so help him get the message 3. Touch yourself and establish yourself as a sexual being 4. Talk sexy, not dirty 5. Sex up what you’re wearing 6. Cut him in line at Starbucks like an asshole, then pay for his drink like an angel 7. Keep him out of the loop- he’ll miss you more! 8. Reach into his pocket for his keys (he’ll think you’re reaching for something else) 9. Spritz perfume into your hair- he’ll have to lean in to smell it 10. When you’re parting, smile coyly back His eyes popped open in surprise and he quickly blinked between the girl and the steps written out on the page. Could it possibly be that simple? Could love actually be broken down into such simple steps?

“These work?” He said in shock and, against his will, he felt a small bit of hope rising in his stomach. Maybe he couldn’t win Lance on his own… but with a little help maybe he actually had a chance.